"I am devastated to announce the loss of my precious 'papa' Walton, Ralph Waite," expressed Mary McDonough, who portrayed Norton's onscreen sister, Erin Walton. "I loved him so much; I know he was so special to all of us. He was like a real father to me. Goodnight Daddy. I love you."

Michael Learned, who appeared on the series for seven years as Olivia Walton, revealed: "Ralph was a good honest actor and a good honest man. He was my spiritual husband.

"We loved each other for over forty years. He died a working actor at the top of his game. He was a loving mentor to many and a role model to an entire generation. I'm devastated."

In addition to The Waltons, the actor recurred on CBS' NCIS in recent years, and the show's Pauley Perrette was among those remembering him on social media. "So Sad. Ralph Waite has passed away. Papa Gibbs. We love him at NCIS SO much. So so sad," she tweeted.

The actor appeared on three episodes of Fox's Bones from 2009-2013. Bones executive producers Hart Hanson and Stephen Nathan also mourned his loss.

"All of us at Bones mourn the loss of Ralph Waite. We loved having him on set and in many ways his character was the moral center of our show as Booth's (David Boreanaz) plainspoken, loving, war hero grandfather. The entire Bones family sends condolences to his family and loved ones," the pair said in a statement to THR.